Alchi

Village in Ladakh, India

34°14′00″N 77°09′45″E / 34.2334°N 77.1625°E / 34.2334; 77.1625CountryIndiaUnion TerritoryLadakhDistrictLehTehsilLikir^[1]Population

(2011)

• Total932Languages

• OfficialHindi, EnglishTime zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)Census code953

Alchi is a village in the Leh district of Ladakh, India.^[2] It is located in the Likir tehsil, on the banks of the Indus River 70 km downstream from the capital Leh. Unlike the other gompas in Ladakh, Alchi is situated on lowland, not on a hilltop.^[3]

The Alchi Monastery or Alchi Gompa lies about 65 km from Leh on the banks of the Indus River.^[4]

History

The village is famous for the existence of one of the oldest monasteries in Ladakh (a national heritage) Alchi Monastery, mainly known for its magnificent and well-preserved 11th- or 12th-century wall paintings, all in an Indo-Himalayan style.^[5] The monastery houses thousands of rare and unique sculptures and paintings back to 11th century Western Tibet.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census of India, Alchi has 145 households. The effective literacy rate (i.e. the literacy rate of population excluding children aged 6 and below) is 72.51%.^[6]

Demographics (2011 Census)^[6]
	Total	Male	Female
Population	932	575	357
Children aged below 6 years	88	46	42
Scheduled caste	0	0	0
Scheduled tribe	712	355	357
Literates	612	422	190
Workers (all)	577	420	157
Main workers (total)	471	400	71
Main workers: Cultivators	118	99	19
Main workers: Agricultural labourers	18	4	14
Main workers: Household industry workers	1	0	1
Main workers: Other	334	297	37
Marginal workers (total)	106	20	86
Marginal workers: Cultivators	64	2	62
Marginal workers: Agricultural labourers	36	12	24
Marginal workers: Household industry workers	0	0	0
Marginal workers: Others	6	6	0
Non-workers	355	155	200

Alchi village, Ladakh
Chortens
Chortens
Image of Tara (Buddhism) in Ladakh
Palace of Sonam-Dorje

Alchi is a small village with several tourist homestays, most offering modern conveniences for overnight stays, The best time to visit is from June to September.

References

^ "Villages | District Leh, Union Territory of Ladakh | India".
^ "Blockwise Village Amenity Directory" (PDF). Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 September 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
^ Schettler, Margaret & Rolf. (1981) Kashmir, Ladakh & Zanskar. Lonely Planet, South Yarra, Vic., Australia, p. 104.
^ "Alchi Monastery". Incredible India.
^ Rizvi (1996), p. 60.
^ ^a ^b "Leh district census". 2011 Census of India. Directorate of Census Operations. Retrieved 23 July 2015.

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Alchi.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alchi.

Alchi monastery
April 2010 Smithsonian Magazine Article Archived 30 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine

Union Territory of Ladakh

Capital: Kargil; Leh

State symbols

History

Pre-Independent India	Maryul Namgyal dynasty of Ladakh Tibet–Ladakh–Mughal war Treaty of Tingmosgang Dogra–Tibetan War Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir
Post-Independent India	1947–1948 India-Pakistan War 1948 military operations in Ladakh 1971 battle of Turtuk 2010 Ladakh floods 2019 Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh reorganisation
Conflicts	Demchok conflict India–China conflict India–Pakistan conflict Kashmir conflict Siachen conflict

Administration

Districts
Politics of Ladakh
Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Kargil
Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh
Ladakh Police
Ladakh Renewable Energy Development Agency
Jammu and Kashmir High Court
Lieutenant Governors
Ladakh (Lok Sabha constituency)

Geography

General	Four types of Himalayan ranges Geology of the Himalaya
Ranges	Baltoro Muztagh Ladakh Range Saltoro Mountains Zanskar Range Kailash Range
Plateau	Depsang Plains More plains Sirijap Teram Shehr Plateau
Valleys	Leh Rupshu Salt Valley Mushkoh Valley Padum Shyok Suru Valley Nubra Zanskar Aryan valley
Glaciers	Chumik Glacier Drang-Drung Glacier Machoi Glacier Parkachik Glacier Shafat Glacier Siachen Glacier
Lakes	Tso Moriri Pangong Tso
Rivers	Sutlej Beas Ravi Shyok Chenab Drass River Indus Zanskar Tsarap Doda Yapola Suru River Markha Galwan Chip Chap
Passes	Bilafond La Chang la Fotu La Gyong La Indira Col Karakoram Pass Khardung La Kongka Pass Lachulung La Taglang La Marsimik La Namika La Pensi La Rezang La Rimo Sasser Pass Sia La Shingo La Spanggur Gap Zoji La
Mountain peaks	Bana Top Chumik Kangri Ghent Kangri Gurung Hill India Saddle K12 Saltoro Kangri Sherpi Kangri Tiger Saddle

Human
settlements

Culture

General	Music of Ladakh
Languages	Ladakhi Purgi Balti Zangskari Changthang Brokskat
Festivals	Bono-na festival

Tourism and
wildlife

Wildlife	Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary Hemis National Park Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary
Tourism	Khurnak Fort Ladakh Marathon Shanti Stupa, Ladakh Siachen Base Camp
Indo-Tibetan Buddhist monasteries	Alchi Bardan Basgo Chemrey Diskit Hanle Hemis Hundur Korzok Karsha Lamayuru Likir Lingshed Mashro/Matho Monastery Mulbekh Namgyal Tsemo Phugtal Phyang Rangdum Rizong Sani Sankar Saspul Shey Monastery Spituk Stakna Stok Stongdey Takthok Thikse Tserkarmo Tonde Wanla Zangla Zongkul

Transport

Airports	Kargil Airport Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport (Leh) Military AGLs
Roads	Darbuk–Shyok–DBO Road India-China Border Roads Leh–Manali Highway NH1 Leh–Kargil–Srinagar Highway Nimmu–Padum–Darcha road (under construction) Sasoma–Saser La Road
Railway	Bhanupli–Leh line (Planned) Srinagar–Leh line (Planned)

Infrastructure

General	Indian Astronomical Observatory
Dams and hydroelectric project	Chutak Dumkhar Salal
Education	Central Institute of Buddhist Studies Defence Institute of High Altitude Research Druk White Lotus School Eliezer Joldan Memorial College Leh, Ladakh Government Degree College, Kargil Phuktal Monastic School Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh University of Ladakh